There’s a magnetic quality here that has, for decades, attracted creatives of all stripes. Fleming, who suffered from writer’s block, created the James Bond character while at GoldenEye—and wrote another Bond adventure during every winter.
Sting wrote the hit, ‘Every Breath You Take’ and Bono wrote the theme song to the GoldenEye film while here.
The artists, writers and musicians from around the world who first visited while Fleming was in residence kept coming when Island Record’s founder, Chris Blackwell, acquired the property during the 1970s. Soon, the original Fleming Villa, didn’t have enough rooms. So, he began to build. What followed: The Originals, Beach and Lagoon Villas, Lagoon Cottages and Beach Huts.
When Chris first began building, he started with a hut for himself, then added one for his mum, then he built a one-, two- and three-bedroom villa.
Each had its own style and vibe, and all were designed to be very private, enclosed in a lush jungle of tropical plants and trees.
Chris furnished each with sexy outdoor showers and deep clawfoot tubs set between oversized palm leaves. All had airy verandas and kitchens. These timeless luxuries, paired with the thoughtful way team arranges your room (Blackwell Rum, hand-dyed batik robes, selection of bath and beauty products), make your stay at GoldenEye extraordinary.
There’s a spacious feeling to this one bedroom villa where rooms flow together informally. The bedroom is nestled under a giant Banyan tree and is furnished with a queen size bed, claw foot tub and outdoor rain shower. There is a second, bamboo-enclosed bathroom that connects to the villa’s living and kitchen area.
These rooms open onto a private cut-stone patio with views of the ocean and a picnic table for al fresco dining.
Two Bedroom, Two-Story Beach Huts sleep four adults.
Each floor has the same layout—with king bed and its own bathroom—yet separate entrances on each floor convey the feeling of privacy.
Thanks to a clever architectural feature (an indoor ladder connecting the two floors, like a loft), these huts have the feel of a tree house in Jamaica.
They’re a great choice for families traveling with older kids.
These beach huts are all raised ten feet. The bedroom is located on the upper level; the sandy-floor, open-air Dune Room is below.
These open-air rooms are great for escaping the midday sun or relaxing after a day at the beach on the oversized sofa bed.
All Dune Rooms have an outdoor rain shower and claw foot bath tub within the gardens, a dining area furnished with a wet bar, full fridge and toaster. Each is furnished with a king-size bed as well as built with interior wet room (with double rain shower heads) and private veranda.
Spanish Elm is a very special GoldenEye property: Cozy, charming and nestled in its own tropical garden, Spanish Elm was one of the first structures Chris built at GoldenEye. It has a view across the lagoon and carved stone steps leading to a private deck for lagoon swimming and sunning.
It also has its own a separate kitchen. Guests visiting GoldenEye love the magical vibe of Spanish Elm – it’s the spot where Johnny Depp chose to plant his tree.
These Beach Huts are raised to three or five feet. Each features a king-size bed, private veranda and either an interior wet room (an immersive open-concept bathroom with double rain shower heads) or an outdoor shower.
With views varying from the cove Oracabessa Bay, the hillside or the garden. Those raised three or five feet have views of the ocean on the cove, Oracabessa Bay, the hillside or the garden.
Ideal for a couple looking to experience the sexy beach vibes together, each hut is furnished with a king-sized bed—most beds are positioned to look out onto the private veranda—as well as interior bathrooms designed as sleek, immersive wet rooms (with double rain shower heads).
These tall huts are raised ten feet off of the sand, offering spectacular views of either Oracabessa Bay or Snorkeler’s Cove.
Each of the stand-alone villas is its own private world, set in a verdant garden of native greenery and sitting directly on the beach or lagoon. Ann Hodges, the noted Jamaican architect, designed every villa with the best of relaxed, barefoot living in mind—hardwood floors, high ceilings, cool linens and oversized furniture. A sexy outdoor shower in each villa’s lush secluded garden enhances the sights, smells and sounds of nature. The full kitchen and outdoor dining table make al fresco eating a part of the villa experience.
A perfect perch for paddleboarding at sunrise or a midnight dip, it doesn’t get better than a cottage directly on the lagoon. Guests who love to start, and end, each day with a swim treasure the cottages for their direct access to the water from their own private dock.
Every cottage includes a kayak making easy a serene and invigorating voyage. Turn the music on low and, listen to the soft splash of the water as it laps against the side of the dock.
Take in the heady scents of the lush plants and flowers that surround you. Indulge in modern luxuries (Blackwell Rum, hand-dyed batik robes, bath and beauty products made with local botanical ingredients) while appreciating all the tranquil turquoise waters have to offer.
No matter what you’re in the mood for, hotel is all about dining options—poolside breakfast at Bizot, barbecue at Bamboo Bar, drinks at Shabeen or dinner at The Gazebo.
Check out the local fare and flavors on the hotel's menus.
Very simple, very special this is the super laidback rum bar right on rustic Button Beach. With sand underfoot, enjoy the smoky flavors of Jamaican Jerk BBQ along with grilled fish straight from the sea.
As soon as their boats pull in, local fisher man bring by their freshest catch.
Located just steps from the sea and fresh-water swimming pool, Bizot Bar serves breakfast and lunch that includes fresh salads, yummy burgers and tasty pastas, as well as famously authentic Jamaican specialties.
On the western arm of Low Cay Beach, Bizot Bar is the spot for stylish low-key dining.
For a really delicious treat, try hotel's in-room dining. Breakfast will be delievered on the veranda of your Lagoon Villa or set a romantic dinner on the porch of your Beach Villa.
You decide, and a hotel's team will make it happen!
Next to the pool by Beach Huts and Snorkeler’s Cove, Shabeen is the super relaxed spot for cocktails and drinks.
Grab a Red Stripe and wander upstairs to the rooftop lounge and take in a panoramic view of the sea.
Built in an airy, tree-house style, the newly designed Gazebo (with lounge and restaurant) serves up dishes with an international flavor. Overlooking both Low Cay Beach and the Lagoon, the Gazebo is the sexy, open-air spot to enjoy cocktails while watching fiery Caribbean sunsets.
Dishes range from grilled lobster tail to seasoned rack of lamb, complemented with an international wine list.
The trees. The plants. The water. The warmth of the wood. The cool, smooth surface of stone. Guests find the natural vibe at the FieldSpa—located in a cottage on the edge of the GoldenEye Lagoon—intensely restorative.
It could be the cozy setting of the treatment rooms, nestled in the bush and open-to-the-air. It could be the earthy scent of spices, hanging in the air.
Massage, meditation, salt scrubs, herbal wraps and facials are among the treatments team’re known for.
Many of the botanical elixirs and essential oils used, are made at the FieldSpa, drawing on traditional Jamaican recipes and the healing powers of owers, roots, leaves and herbs grown at hotel's farm, Pantrepant.
An energizing full body exfoliation to renew skin with Blue Mountain coffee, raw cane sugar and cold pressed coconut oil, followed by a full body shea butter hydration.
FieldSpa is a natural fit with its environment— and that’s what imparts a deep sense of calm.
Each Bush Bath is drawn and given outside beginning with a dry brush exfoliation and includes a scalp massage during the soak as well as a full body hydration after.
Swedish massage and hot stones are combined with Jamaican cold pressed coconut oil to boost the immune system and increase circulation.
The whole body is cocooned in pure aloe vera from hotel's GoldenEye garden; the healing properties of this plant will deeply hydrate tissues, followed by a soothing scalp and foot massage.
Surrounded by 14 Tibetan singing bowls, your therapist soothes you with harmonized sound and vibrational healing where the bowls are sung and struck to activate the chakras and calm the nervous system.
From swimming and snorkeling to paddleboarding and kayaking, there’s no shortage of trips and activities to take during your stay at GoldenEye. You don’t want to miss Firefly, the house that Noel Coward built.
Go in the late afternoon—to see the island’s most majestic views and plan to stay for sunset (with a cocktail, of course).
Button Beach—hotel's rustic beach that’s home to a bar shack—is as adorable as its name implies.
A glass-bottom boat excursion is an ideal way to warm up to under-water adventures. Over 700 species of fish can be found in the waters of Jamaica’s turquoise sea, amongst scores of corals–purple stag horn, red fire, brains and lacey sea fans called tubipora.
GoldenEye’s varied shoreline lends itself to exploration by kayak. Depart from Wata Sport Beach.
Low Cay is the main beach at GoldenEye—500 smooth, sandy feet of beach shaped like a croissant. It’s so wide and sprawling, it can sometimes feel like its own private, deserted island.
Learn how to sail with hotel's certified Wata Sports team at Button Beach. Navigate the Caribbean Sea on one of GoldenEye’s Sun Fish or Hobie Cat sailboats.
The warm, clear GoldenEye waters are surrounded by extensive coral gardens. Equipment is complimentary.
The fast growing sport of stand-up paddle boarding is a wonderful way to enjoy the lagoon, Oracabessa Bay and the open sea beyond.
The best pool at GoldenEye is the Lagoon: think of it as a 250-meter pool.Additionally, there are fresh-water swimming pools at the Bizot Bar and at Shabeen.
GoldenEye is all about spectacular settings and intimate, personal experiences. That’s probably why GoldenEye is one of those places where couples choose to marry.
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